Anya Taylor-Joy, whom many will remember from The Queen’s Gambit, returns to the small screen with a new Apple TV+ series adapted from the eponymous bestseller by Marissa Stapley: join us as we explore the filming locations of Lucky, available on the platform from July 15, 2026.
What it’s about
The protagonist, Lucky, is doing everything she can to leave behind her criminal past and build a new life. A multimillion-dollar heist gone wrong, however, forces her to go on the run once again.
Hard-pressed by both the FBI and a ruthless crime boss, the woman cannot help but wonder whether redemption is possible and whether she will ever truly close this chapter of her life.
Where the series was filmed
All the locations for Lucky are spread between Las Vegas and Southern California, chosen for their ability to recreate on screen the urban atmosphere that drives the series and, naturally, the casino vibe that permeates especially the first part when Anya Taylor-Joy’s character is lining up the job.
Las Vegas
Some key scenes, including Lucky escaping across rooftops while chased by her husband (Drew Starkey), were filmed on rooftops with views of the Las Vegas Strip.
This boulevard, connecting the suburbs of Paradise and Winchester, is one of the world’s most famous: it houses a large share of the world’s greatest international hotels, with credible statistics indicating 19 out of 25. With its more than 65,000 rooms available to tourists and visitors, it stands as the symbol of luxury, nightlife, and a polished lifestyle.
Among the locations where Lucky was filmed is one of Las Vegas’s historic casinos: Caesars Palace. Located at 3570 Las Vegas Blvd South—the official name for the Strip—the hotel-casino is renowned for an architectural style that clearly imitates the Roman Empire; there is even a small Colosseum, built in the early 2000s specifically for Céline Dion’s residency show A New Day, and over the years many other world-renowned artists have performed there, such as Elton John, Cher, Adele.
Caesars Palace is also known for hosting major sports events, particularly wrestling, and it hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1981 and 1982: in the car park there is even a race circuit.
Southern California
Long Beach
Among Lucky’s Southern California locations is Long Beach: this town, less than half an hour from Santa Monica and quintessentially Californian, with tall palm trees and the ocean in the background contrasting with ultra-modern skyscrapers, was transformed by the production into San Diego, thanks to the use of fleets of vehicles bearing the city’s seal and name and other details crafted with care.
The filming particularly focused on the Promenade area: Long Beach’s waterfront promenade, frequented daily by locals and tourists thanks to its views and the many activities it offers—such as visiting one of the United States’ largest aquariums (the Aquarium of the Pacific) or stopping at Rainbow Harbor & Marina to fish, to observe—perhaps with a bit of luck—the whales, or simply to relax or have a picnic, or to explore the iconic Long Beach Lighthouse.
The Simi Valley
The Simi Valley, a broad area where small towns alternate with green spaces and scenic trails beloved by hiking enthusiasts, was used as the setting for exterior scenes like Lucky’s new escape. Movie and TV buffs will surely recognize the Big Sky Movie Ranch: one of the most frequently used ranches on screen, historically serving as a site for productions such as The Little House on the Prairie (the original 1970s series, not the Netflix reboot).
Piru
Other scenes from the new Apple TV series were shot in Piru: an iconic American town with wide streets and low-rise buildings, often chosen by film productions because it could pass for anywhere in the United States. A stroll near the lake of the same name is a must, set among the area’s numerous national parks and, for fans of the genre, the California Tactical Academy, the largest outdoor shooting range in the Los Angeles area.
